CBS cuts episode order for Rules of Engagement

CBS has reportedly cut the episode order for veteran comedy Rules of Engagement from 18 episodes to 13, Deadline reports:

Rules was originally picked up for 18 episodes, with two leftover episodes from last season bringing the total order to 20 half-hours. (Rules, which wraps production December 6, will now air 15 episodes.) The long-running comedy was slated to air on Saturdays, but after freshman How To Be A Gentleman‘s underwhelming launch in the Thursday 8:30 PM slot, Rules was summoned in and took over the post-Big Bang Theory berth.

Despite the cut in the episode order, the well-performing comedy still has a good shot at returning next season. This episode-cutting has more to do with the fact that CBS needs some primetime space to launch the midseason Rob Schneider comedy.